Chargers-Broncos at a new level

Philip Rivers. shouting to fans as he runs off the field after the Chargers' victory over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 12, has been at the center of some of the team's epic games.
— AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Philip Rivers. shouting to fans as he runs off the field after the Chargers' victory over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 12, has been at the center of some of the team's epic games.
/ AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

DENVER  Tom Judish was wearing a camouflage cap with a Broncos logo as he sat next to a woman dressed in blue and gold on a plane bound for Denver.

Judish is a resident of El Cajon but a native of Colorado.

He recalls the Orange Crush with a fond smile and John Elway with something resembling a smug grin. Judish goes way back. He even named some players from the AFL days. He attended the final game at Mile High Stadium and watched his Broncos win a Super Bowl in the Chargers’ home stadium.

But his favorite win in the all-time series between the AFC West rivals?

“Twenty four to zero,” he said.

To which his wife, who was wearing a Chargers sweatshirt and cap, did something like gasping.

The conversation at the Denver International Airport continued for a moment, a sports columnist asking this couple that has been married for 21 years to reminisce.

It was all fun and games until …

“Last year’s game,” Maureen Judish eventually said as a sort of interjection. “That’s the game I almost divorced you.”

“No,” Tom said.

“Oh, yes I did,” Maureen answered.

Indeed, these mixed marriages can be difficult.

And now, something new to survive. A whole new level in a rivalry already stacked a mile high with memories.

The San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos will meet for the 109th time on Sunday at Sports Authority Field, but it will be the first time they’ve done so in the playoffs.

The Broncos have won 58 of the 108 meetings in a streaky series.

The Chargers owned the 1960s (15-5), the Broncos the ‘70s (13-6-1). The Broncos won seven straight from 1975-77 and the first meeting of ’78. The Chargers won seven of the next 10 but lost 31 of the next 43. The Chargers won nine of 11 after that, including a 2007 season in which they beat the Broncos in two games by a combined score of 64-6.

We think of the Oakland Raiders and their costumed faithful when we think Chargers rivals. But those who truly follow such things know that true enmity is found in Chargers versus Broncos.

Especially lately.

Save for the Kansas City Chiefs finishing first in 2010, the Broncos and Chargers are the only teams to have won the AFC West since 2004.

• On the final day of 2005, Torrey Pines High alum and Broncos safety John Lynch hit Drew Brees from behind and dislodged the ball. Brees dove into a pile of players to try to recover and was hit by Gerard Warren. Brees suffered a separated shoulder, which required surgery. It would be his final play as a Charger.

• Qualcomm Stadium has perhaps never been so energized as in the fourth quarter of a 48-20 victory over the Broncos on Dec. 10, 2006, when LaDainian Tomlinson ran through the left side of the line and sprinted to his NFL-record 28th rushing touchdown of the season.